Thainstone mark 25 year milestone

ANM Group marked 25 years at its agricultural and community hub at Thainstone Centre in Inverurie with a Charity Dinner and Auction on Saturday, (January 10).

The evening celebration rounded off a year of fundraising efforts by staff and supporters and a spectacular total of £80,000 being raised for CLAN Cancer Support.

Over the course of the year, the ANM staff have raised £19,750 for CLAN through in-house events such as bake sales, sport sweepstakes and sponsored personal sports challenges.

The event, attended by over 400 guests, included a raffle and a special auction headed up by the Group’s professional auctioneering team.

Bids were flying for the spectacular auction prizes on offer at the anniversary event - raising vital funds for the farming co-operative’s chosen ‘Charity of the Year’.

Prizes at the sell-out event included a racing yacht experience donated by Arnold Clark; a private plane trip courtesy of GSS Developments (Aberdeen) Ltd; and cottage and car hire for a week on the River Spey donated by the Group’s ex Vice-Chairman David Brown.

The Fyvie Castle experience achieved the top price of £3,200 for a special dinner in the castle dining room and accommodation in the Preston Tower apartment for 12 people – courtesy of the National Trust and catering by Thainstone Events.

Pat Machray, ANM Group Chief Executive, said: “Thainstone Centre has diversified over the last 25 years and now represents more than just the livestock market with various divisions under the ANM Group umbrella calling it home.

“We are delighted to celebrate this milestone by supporting a charity voted for by staff. I am overwhelmed at how much has been raised by staff and supporters - they have done a tremendous job.”

Colin Slessor, Auctioneer on the evening, said: “I am delighted that the staff voted to fundraise for a local cancer support charity.

Having undergone a cancer treatment programme myself; I know how essential CLAN’s services are to provide both practical and emotional support to patients, relatives and friends during a difficult time.”

Gemma Powell, Aberdeenshire Area Services Coordinator at CLAN, said: “The support that CLAN has received from the ANM Group is fantastic; we can’t thank them enough. The amount raised at this fantastic event is testament to the commitment by staff.”